The Premier League game between Manchester United and Sunderland at Old Trafford on Saturday, Oct 3rd 2009.
They call it Fergie time. Another game and another stoppage time goal for the champions. Sunderland were on the brink of a famous victory at Old Trafford when the fourth official signalled four minutes of stoppage time.
You knew what was coming next. With chaos in the box, Patrice Evra hit a shot that was flying wide before it hit the unfortunate Anton Ferdinand and deflected into the net.
It was hard on Sunderland who had taken the game to their hosts and looked to have done enough to win the game. This Manchester United side, though, never loses belief that it will score and after Michael Owen’s stoppage time winner in the derby, they did it again.
Sunderland surprised the hosts inside seven minutes. Kenwyne Jones held the ball up on the edge of the United box before flicking it with the outside of his boot back to the supporting Lee Cattermole.
The Sunderland midfielder fed the ball into Bent’s feet and, in front of the watching Fabio Capello, took one touch to tee himself up before wrapping his boot round the ball and firing it into the bottom corner.
John O’Shea could have got tighter and Ben Foster probably should have got a glove to it but it was still a demonstration of how Bent’s confidence is infusing every aspect of his game – this was his seventh goal in eight starts.
Bruce was obviously in no mood to be deferent to his former manager and that was reflected in the ferocity with his side came out against the champions.
Sunderland harried and tackled superbly, led by the excellent central midfield pair of Lorik Cana and Lee Cattermole.
Faced with Sunderland’s commitment and determination, United struggled and became frustrated. The players started sniping at each other and Paul Scholes was booked, again, for a cynical trip on Bent. Wayne
Rooney, as poor a half as he has played this season, should also have been cautioned for a kick on Andy Reid.
Sir Alex Ferguson was clearly unimpressed and hauled off Scholes at half-time, sending on Anderson to bring more energy to the United midfield.
The change, no doubt accompanied by some choice words of Glaswegian inflection, did their work and the home side were much improved after the break, Rooney going close after just two minutes.
Six minutes in and Berbatov had the equaliser. And how. Nani had sprinted past Kieran Richardson on the right but Rooney could not squeeze the Portuguese winger’s low cross past Craig Gordon.
Anton Ferdinand hoofed clear but straight to John O’Shea who sent a deep cross into the box.
Berbatov, near the penalty spot, met the ball with an overhead, hooked volley into the net, a spectacular finish.
United were clearly pumped up. Anderson played a dynamic one-two with Danny Welbeck, surged into the box and tangled with Phil Bardsley, the
former United defender. Alan Wiley, the referee, gave a free kick to Sunderland but Ferguson was convinced it should have been a penalty and launched what was clearly an expletive-filled rant at fourth official Mike Dean.
His mood soured even further moments later. Darren Fletcher went after Reid with a wild lunge but Wiley played advantage. Reid played a one-two with Jones and surged forward before chipping into the area.
Jones was sprinting goalwards and leapt getting to the ball ahead of Foster’s attempted punch, heading into the empty net. United appealed desperately for a foul on the goalkeeper but the goal was fair.
United strove hard to find a second equaliser, Rooney going close with a trap and shot from the edge of the box. Yet Sunderland could have extended their lead with 15 minutes to go.
The lively Jordan Henderson had come on for Reid and he did well to work the ball to Steed Malbranque on the by-line.
The Frenchman’s drag back seemed destined for Jones’ boot but Michael Carrick, just on as a substitute, did well to get a toe on the ball. Sunderland continued to push and Nemanja Vidic nearly caused
Foster further embarrassment with a mishit back pass that the England goalkeeper only just managed to get clear, with Jones closing.
This was not Foster’s finest evening and will have done little to advance his cause as a potential England No 1.
Richardson’s late, dumb dismissal increased the pressure. The former United player had been booked in the first half for clattering
Welbeck and when he kicked the ball away after conceding a free kick with six minutes left, Wiley sent him off. The 10 men could not quite hang on.
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